A cautious start for the new MP4-26 as the team spent much of the day
undertaking rigorous checks during the first day of track testing.

In the morning, we focused on short runs to enable Lewis and the
engineers to run through a number of systems checks and make small set-up
and tyre-compound changes in order to gauge the car's reaction to
adjustments.

At lunchtime, the car was routinely stripped for a more thorough check of
the new systems, returning to the track for the final hour's
running.

While the day's programme ran as planned without the engagement of
the drag reduction system, the latter part of the day saw us running our
new hybrid system for the first time.

Lewis completed 58 laps without problem and the team declared itself
satisfied with the first day. Jenson begins testing tomorrow as we put
more miles on the new car and ramp up our testing programme.

Lewis said: "Today was mainly about checking the car -- not
the most exciting day, but it was important to make sure everything was
running okay.

"We didn't do any particularly long runs, and I wasn't
too aggressive with the car, but we learned a couple of useful things.
The car feels good compared to last year's, which is positive. It
feels like a good step over MP4-25."

Driver for day two - Jenson Button
Duration of test - Four days (February 10-13)